News: July 2014

31
Jul

Sign here to ask Govt to triple cycling fundingI would like to see the walking and cycling budget in the 2015 Government Policy Statement on land transport increased from $15-30 million per year to $45-90 million per year for the next 3 years with progressive increases after that. This is a small increase relative to the total budget of $3.5 billion per year, but would start to make a real difference for cycling. The NZ Transport Agency should take an active leadership role in improving cycling, and should help kickstart local councils by funding more than the usual amount for cycling-specific projects.More and more people are taking up cycling despite the risk, and surveys conducted in Auckland, Dunedin, and by the Automobile Association all say the same thing: more than 60% of Kiwis would cycle around town if it were safe. Recent investment in the New Zealand Cycle Trails has been...

July 31, 2014
Patrick
9
Jul

Cyclists want answers from political partiesCyclists are calling for better protection, following the Coroner's inquest into the death of Jane Farrelly, held in Hamilton this week.Mrs Farrelly was killed after being struck by a truck near Taupo on March 16 last year.Cycling Advocates Network spokesman Patrick Morgan said many people are angry, and want to know what the Government will do to protect them.Coverage of the Coroner's inquest into Jane Farrelly's death is disturbing, he said."The Police investigator is reported as saying it is unrealistic for a truck to slow down and follow a bunch of cyclists as they rode up a short hill.""It is heartbreaking to hear that Jane Farrelly's life was worth less than a few seconds' delay for a driver, according to Police."Clearly we aren't doing enough to protect the 1.5 million New Zealanders who ride bikes, said Mr Morgan."...

July 9, 2014
Patrick